The Catholic News Agency (CNA) has a report about the display of the Holy Tunic, believed to have been worn by Our Lord during the Passion, at the church in Argenteuil north-west of Paris, where it is preserved. It is rarely displayed, and there were only two twentieth century exhibitions of it, in 1934 and 1984.
The article gives a history of the relic as well as details of the current display and attendant events.
It also seeks to set the exposition in the context of attempts to revitalise Christianity in this part of France, including the ongoing restoration work at the nearby abbey of St Denis, about which I have written before.
The article can be seen at Record numbers of pilgrims flock to see the Holy Tunic of Christ near Paris
Two further online articles give considerable detail about scientific examinations of the Holy Tunic. Alongside other Passion relics such as the Shroud of Turin and the Sudarium of Oviedo it is considered In some detail in Tunic of Argenteuil « See The Holy Land
A second, possibly rather more detailed, account can be seen at The Tunic of Argenteuil - Digital Sindonological Lexicon
Both of these accounts, whilst faithfully reporting suggested dates based on radiocarbon analysis of not a few centuries later than the Passion, also present a considerable amount of evidence that would argue for the authenticity of the Shroud, Sudarium and Tunic. They do again raise the question as to the ability in the medieval period to produce false relics that seems quite impossible given the state at the time of scientific knowledge in disciplines not known before the twentieth century. In other words, put not all your trust in radiocarbon dating for textiles…..
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